The benchmark index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) slipped into negative territory on Thursday, snapping a three-session streak of modest gains as cautious investors opted for selective selling amid prevailing risk aversion.
Despite some buying interest in large-cap stocks, overall selling pressure outweighed support, dragging the market lower.
DSEX, the broad-based index of the Dhaka bourse, shed 7.5 points to close at 4,959.
Although the market opened on a positive note and sustained upward momentum until mid-session, selling pressure intensified in the latter half of the trading day, eroding earlier gains, EBL Securities said in its daily market commentary.
Market turnover rose by 2.7 per cent to nearly Tk380 crore, indicating active participation despite the subdued index performance.
Pharmaceutical stocks dominated turnover, accounting for 15.5 per cent of the total transaction value on the Dhaka bourse.
The textiles sector followed with a 13.6 per cent share, while general insurance contributed 13.5 per cent to total turnover.
Sectoral performance remained mixed. General insurance declined 2.1 per cent, ceramics shed 1.6 per cent and travel lost 1.1 per cent of their respective market capitalisation.
In contrast, the food and tannery sectors each advanced 0.7 per cent, while telecom gained 0.6 per cent.
Out of the 397 issues traded on the Dhaka Stock Exchange, 101 advanced, 215 declined and 81 remained unchanged.
On the Chittagong Stock Exchange, the selective categories index CSCX inched up by 9.2 points to 8,622, while the All Share Price Index CASPI rose by 6.0 points to 13,922.
Turnover in the port city bourse, however, dropped sharply by 22 per cent to Tk6.7 crore.
